Roaming dogs kill sheep and puppy

By
JESSICA LONG

A KILLING spree has former Parma Road sheep breeder Bill Davies sick to his stomach.

A KILLING spree has former Parma Road sheep breeder Bill Davies sick to his stomach.

JUST SIX: Parma farmer Bill Davies said he can’t find it in him to bury anymore sheep after dogs attacked and killed two of the eight remaining in his flock. The six left are recovering from puncture wounds and are timid after the trauma.

Dogs have killed flocks of Mr Davies’ sheep over the years but the death of his shih tzu puppy last Friday night has sent him over the edge.

“It’s very distressing,” he said.

“This has been an ongoing problem, but in March they killed our little terrier dog – right near the house, and last Friday they killed two sheep and our new pup.”

Mr Davies began breeding Dorper sheep about four years ago.

He discovered their canny ability to control noxious fireweed, saving him thousands of dollars in poisoning programs, but he threw in the towel because he couldn’t stop predators.

“I had over 140 breeding ewes and two to three rams … now I have about half a dozen left,” he said.

“They started attacking the sheep and I would go around in the morning and find dozens of dead or dying sheep in the paddock.

“The dogs would run them down until they died.

“I stopped breeding altogether because I couldn’t control the dogs.”

Mr Davies said these were well fed dogs.

“They aren’t eating the sheep,” he said.

“They nip at them. One I’ve got now has lost its ear and another has puncture wounds in its neck.

“Wild dogs would normally eat the sheep. These ones are well fed, they are playing.”

Mr Davies asked for dog owners to be sure their animals are locked up overnight and when they are not home to avoid such occurrences.

“There doesn’t seem to be anything else I can do about it,” he said.

“I’ve got a gun licence, spotlights and contacted authorities, neighbours and anyone I could think of.”

Mr Davies said traps and baits had been placed around his property by Local Land Services but they have been left undisturbed.

“I’d definitely shoot them if I got the chance – they killed my dogs and my sheep.”